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MIT The Entrepreneur "UpSpiral" ~ February 20, 2013

No Where But Up

Positive psychology is quite big right now in my circle of friends.
Positive psychology is the scientific (yay science) study of the good things in
life that makes life worth living, making the emphasis on what’s right in your life rather than what’s
wrong. Crazy, right?

During a recent MIT talk, Dr. William Larkin focused on positive
psychology and how one can have an Upward Spiral in relation to
entrepreneurship.

This, of course, is based on objective quantified data. Apparently, we
have emotional set points. This determines whether we experience an upward or
downward spiral. Dr. Larkin explained how the brain has evolved over time and
how this affects how we experience life.

The amygdala produces the fight or flight response necessary of earlier
humans who had to do either; this produces fear and anxiety, and a downward
spiral. The insular cortex provides balance. The anterior cingulate is
responsible for happy thoughts and positive influences, which produces an upward
spiral. And the frontal lobe is responsible for the choice; which area of the
brain to grow, the amygdala or the anterior cingulate.

Nice lesson.

Dr. Larkin noted that beliefs have an influence on which area of the
brain grows. If you believe in a God of wrath, you grow a large amygdala, whereas
if you believe in a God of love, you grow a large anterior cingulate.
Compassionate meditation can also grow the anterior cingulate, which leads to
an upward spiral.

The benefits of an upward spiral include better health, faster learning, increased
creativity, better connection with others, and thriving at a cellular level – you will
even produce positive cells.

Dr. Larkin went on to state that there really isn’t that much
negativity in one’s life – we have just learned to dwell on the negative.
People are 9:2 times more likely to dwell in the negative. Bummer.

Here are some of Dr. Larkin’s
tips for living in an upward spiral:

Five ways to measure where you are on your spiral on a scale of 1-100:

1. Subjective Well Being – how do you think

2. Emotional Well Being – how do you feel

3. Vibe Core – what vibration are you sending; what
do you think you want, do you believe you are gonna get it, and are you open to
it?

4. Play to Strengths – know your top 5 value
strengths and your top 5 action strengths, and play them up!

Ways to build positive emotions… Emotions are quick, can last a spell,
and can be intense. Think of how mad you get in traffic. How quick. How long it
lasts. The intensity. Now apply that to a happy emotion… Can you? Train
yourself.

Build Positive Muscles

Concentrate on: gratitude, peace, joy, hope, love.

1. How quick? Start small… little pulses. “Love…
love… love…” at small intervals. Like at the gym.

2. How long? How long can you sustain the feeling.
Try to meditate on it. Hold it.

3. How intense? Now grow it.

Cultivate your understanding that you can choose to be happy and live
in an Upward Spiral. You can grow your positive emotions and expand it out to
others. Connect with people, be open to it, and let the flow increase.